Could John Kerry Hand Both MA-Sen Seats to the GOP?

posted at 2:45 pm on February 5, 2011 by Jazz Shaw

With presidential primary speculation sucking all the air out of the room, it’s only fair that we take a moment and look at some of the equally useless rumors floating around concerning other high profile positions. This weekend the Boston Globe opens up the guessing game with yet another rumor that not only is Hillary Clinton thinking of moving on to bigger and better things, but that Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) is angling for her position at Secretary of State.

AS EGYPT battles over its future, Senator John Kerry is negotiating his own.

The Bay State’s senior senator is running an unofficial campaign to become the next secretary of state. For once, he looks artful, as well as ambitious.
…
Secretary of state is the spot Kerry wanted when Barack Obama won the presidency. He lost out to Hillary Clinton and Obama’s “team of rivals.’’ But his fallback position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee provides a powerful platform to press his case.

Kerry’s office quickly moved to squash the rumor in the most forceful manner possible.

“I don’t know what else we can do to stop the parlor game speculation about who’s coming and who’s going,” the statement began. “Lord knows we’ve knocked it down a thousand times over, and at a time of such challenge for American foreign policy the punditry is especially unwelcome and unhelpful.”

“So one last time: the only job John Kerry is contemplating, or considering, is the one job he already has, and he isn’t looking elsewhere. Sometimes in politics, no really means no, and sometimes the best place to be really is the place you already are, end of story.”

In a way I kind of feel sorry for Kerry on this one. If he says nothing it would immediately be taken as an acknowledgment that he was angling for the job. If he says no – as he did – armchair quarterbacks will simply declare that obviously that’s what somebody would say if they were considering such a move. You don’t want to look like you’re campaigning to kick out a high profile member of your own party.

But what if things did play out this way? Rumors continue to circulate that Hillary is thinking of moving on, though Bill Richardson is frequently mentioned as her replacement. And it was one of the worst kept secrets in Washington two years ago that Kerry wanted the cabinet position at State until Clinton got it as a peace offering to her disgruntled supporters.

If Kerry left, Massachusetts would find itself in need of another senator. Not only did Republican Scott Brown win a shocking victory there after Ted Kennedy passed, but he is still considered the most popular political figure in the state today. (Though it’s worth noting that some conservatives are mulling a primary challenge to him next time out.) Are Bay State voters possibly still in the mood to elect a second Republican to fill Kerry’s shoes in an effort to shed their image as Taxachusetts?

Anything is possible, but they’d have to find a candidate who is effectively a clone of Brown. We’ve seen nothing to indicate that MA has suddenly become Georgia North and would elect a pro-life, war hawk conservative firebrand. Still, it could make for a very interesting political theater if it came to pass. As little as five years ago, how many of you would have even considered it possible that you’d live to see the day the GOP took both senate seats in the home stomping grounds of the Kennedys?

Breaking on Hot Air

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

But what if things did play out this way? Rumors continue to circulate that Hillary is thinking of moving on, though Bill Richardson is frequently mentioned as her replacement. And it was one of the worst kept secrets in Washington two years ago that Kerry wanted the cabinet position at State until Clinton got it as a peace offering to her disgruntled supporters.

Oh, the confirmation hearings if Richardson is nominated:

“Will you keep your hands off the female employees at State, Mr. Richardson? You had trouble doing it as governor.”

He’s called a Moderate. You DO know we allow those in the party, don’t you?

Scott Brown’s moderate views, combined with an inept opponent, gave the GOP that seat. And even though the party was ecstatic after he won, as we learned in Delaware and Nevada, the party wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

On cold nights John Kerry stands near his fireplace; one hand on the mantle, the other swirling a glass half-filled with ice and Chivas Regal. He looks up at the walnut display case just below his portrait. The soft satin backround a shimmering field of royal blue, broken only by the three purple hearts carefully mounted therein. He runs his fingers over his war wounds – they twinge a bit when the temerature drops – and he remembers…

On cold nights John Kerry stands near his fireplace; one hand on the mantle, the other swirling a glass half-filled with ice and Chivas Regal. He looks up at the walnut display case just below his portrait. The soft satin backround a shimmering field of royal blue, broken only by the three purple hearts carefully mounted therein. He runs his fingers over his war wounds – they twinge a bit when the temerature drops – and he remembers…

Scott Brown’s moderate views, combined with an inept opponent, gave the GOP that seat. And even though the party was ecstatic after he won, as we learned in Delaware and Nevada, the party wasn’t going to make that mistake again.

YYZ on February 5, 2011 at 3:12 PM

LOL. Yeah, we made the brilliant strategic move of keeping Harry Reid in office and nominating someone Chris Coons could easily beat in Delaware.

MA resident here….I just had a crazy Idea. Run as many candidates as you can GOP…the more right-leaning the better. You could run Rubio in this state against Brown and Brown would barely win. Find someone to the right of Brown that can win the Primary and you’d probably have your next MA Senator.

If Kerry’s seat is actually up for grabs, I think this could really happen. There are hundreds of thousands of nominal conservatives here who call themselves democrats in this state. They just don’t normally vote because it is almost a pointless exercise 90% of the time. Turnout has been very high for the last 3 elections in my district but take that with a huge grain of salt. We could have unseated Olver D-MA in November but we failed to do so. Olver is a big Porker I have heard.

The dems will nominate Setti Warren, the black mayor of Newton and he can easily beat any GOP contender. As for Mr Brown i live inMassachusetts, it is the bluest of all states. Would you rather have two left wing loons from here. Why cant you folkx r be happy that at least one of the Senators from my state votes the right even if it is not all the time.

And as for you Mord, no pro life conservative like Rubio could evah be elected to any office here. A GOP candidate has to win at least 80% of the unenrolled almost all of the GOPers and a little smidgen of democrats. And like it or not those indies are fiscal conservatives and social liberals otherwise known as RINOS.

When Scott Brown votes to not add to the deficit he is not a Republican in name only… He is a true republican.

HAHA! yup. Would you rather have a Republican from MA that the voters merely grumble about or one that will never get re-elected…One that would have college students setting his local office on fire? Don’t forget how many politically active college students live in this state. This state is the breeding ground for Liberal Politicians,operatives,staffers and lawyers. It is a Miracle (I hesitate to mean that in the literal sense) that Brown even got elected.

But if we get another chance, I say swing for the fences in the Primaries. I really think it could happen.

He’s called a Moderate. You DO know we allow those in the party, don’t you?

nickj116 on February 5, 2011 at 2:49 PM

Oh, a Moderate? For years I’ve been asking in what areas “Moderates” are different from “Liberals”. You can select just about any area, and “Moderates” will tell you they aren’t “right-wing reactionaries”, they like to make up their minds on “the issues”. Trouble is, that when their beliefs are examined closely, it appears that there are no differences. Once their minds are made up, they sound just like Leftists. “Moderates” just like to look down their noses at Conservatives and pretend they’re not Leftists.

Taxachusetts is lost to the fasicsts. I know there are some good people there, some of whom I had met at the 8/28 event. But let’s face reality. After the 2010 elections, no know I know is going to vote for someone just to make gains. That’s Karl Rove’s game plan. That isn’t going to fly.

If the GOP wants to primary someone there, he’ll have to be principled, ethical, a true conservative, and have never been a RINO. That’s it.

I am a social moderate and a strong fiscal conservative and i live in Ma. And there are a lot of us. And in this state they are the bulk of those interesting in the tea party. We have gay marriage in this state. And honestly i am not a big fan but it hasnt had effect on my life so i really dont care. I want low taxes and government nanny state off my back. So i think of myself as a Republican and NOT in name only.

Scott Brown must run for re-election in 2012. It seems possible for him to hold on to the seat, barring any primary shenanigans.

As far as the seat held by Kerry, it will be up in 2012 only if he is named to an administration post prior to the election. That seems unlikely, unless Hillary does decide to challenge Obama in the Democratic primary and thus vacates her post at State.

If, by some miracle, Obama is re-elected, Hillary chooses not to re-up, and Kerry gets the nod from Obama, the seat would probably go Democratic again (given that Obama was just re-elected).

This is perfect for Romney. Why he would want to run for presidnet where he has no hopes for getting the nomination when he can be a lifetime influential figure is beyond me. This is tailor-made for ROmney.

Red and others: With an openly hostile media, the argument can be made that RINOs are worse for conservatives than liberals. This is because they will give ‘bipartisan’ cover for liberal causes, and allow for a prolonged period where the American public can’t tell a difference between Democrats and Republicans.

And if the American people don’t care, then this is all moot, and the country is doomed anyway. I would say, though, that the Tea Party shows that predictions of America’s demise are somewhat premature.

On cold nights John Kerry stands near his fireplace; one hand on the mantle, the other swirling a glass half-filled with ice and Chivas Regal. He looks up at the walnut display case just below his portrait. The soft satin backround a shimmering field of royal blue, broken only by the three purple hearts carefully mounted therein. He runs his fingers over his war wounds – they twinge a bit when the temerature drops – and he remembers…

Don’t worry Jack, the MA tea partiers will get their O’Donnell to knock off Scott Brown in the primary and then we can be back to 2 hard core 100% liberals representing MA again.
jarodea on February 5, 2011 at 7:41 PM

Cold water in the face. You speak of reality Jar, but it makes us so mad when we see Brown vote for the START Treaty and that stupid jobs bill.

I don’t like him. His personality is like dry toast and I see him just trying to do his all to keep his seat.

When I get all agro, I should read your post to bring me back. (Or think of “Marsha” C.)

“So one last time: the only job John Kerry, who served in Viet Nam, is contemplating, or considering, is the one job he, who served in Viet Nam already has, and he, who served in Viet Nam isn’t looking elsewhere. Sometimes in politics, for those who served in Viet Nam, no really means no, and sometimes the best place to be really is the place you, who served in Viet Nam already are, end of story.”

Assuming that this series of unlikely events were to happen, and the GOP got a second senator from Massachusetts, it won’t be good enough because he/she will a “RINO.” I don’t care how moderate Scott Brown is, he’s still better than Martha Coakley. Compared to more like John Kerry, a second Scott Brown would be tremendous progress.

You could give some of the commenters here a bowl of ice cream and they’d b*tch that it isn’t frozen custard.

Have to admit, the idea of Mitt running for Senator in MA is the first time i have ever thought positively of the idea of Romney. I think it would be a perfect fit, and the best we can do right now if we want to win.

I hate to say it but id rather have Scott Brown in MA than a left wing nut job…..and unfortunately, i think those are our only two choices in that wacked out state.

Most of the time, i wouldnt agree to the philosophy of RINO or die, but if the RINO isnt completely worthless, (Brown has stayed strong on Obamacare, which is why he was elected), seems like a decent guy, (unlike Mike Castle), and the state is completely worthlessly liberal like MA. Sometimes you just do what you gotta do.

Its a bad argument i know, but i can live with Brown (not that i will ever send him money again, though). Yet, i hated Mike Castle, who seemed like a whiny Washington insider, with not only zero core values, but no guts.

As for Nevada…..that one is still in my nightmares….how did we lose that to Harry Reid. Its like we lost to a steaming dog turd because the people were more frightened of what Angle might do to the bottom of their shoes….WTF?

I guess Kerry believes that not only does his tenure as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee endow him with the necessary experience to become Sec. of State, but his experience committing treason in the 1970’s when he was secretly meeting with the North Vietnamese in Paris, France, and plotting against his country when he was a leader of the Vietnam Vets Against the War has also given him invaluable international experience in duplicitous diplomacy.

No need to worry folks, if Kerry is chosen as our next Sec. of State, he will fit right in with this regime and their anti-americanism.